The Security Council put to a vote a draft resolution to renew for six months the authorization for Member States, acting nationally or through regional organizations, to inspect vessels on the high seas off the coast of Libya bound to or from Libya, that they have reasonable grounds to believe are violating the arms embargo.
Rather than progress towards peace following direct negotiations between the Russian Federation and Ukraine in Istanbul earlier in May, the Security Council heard today that the month’s closing days have instead witnessed Moscow intensify attacks on its neighbour.
The two-State solution is on life support, the Security Council heard today from a senior United Nations official who called for urgent humanitarian assistance in Gaza while speakers for Israel and the State of Palestine accused each other of politicizing aid delivery.
The Security Council today elected Mahmoud Daifallah Hmoud (Jordan) as a member of the International Court of Justice, voting with the General Assembly simultaneously but separately to do so.
United Nations officials and humanitarians alike warned that the international framework created to protect civilians during armed conflict is itself under attack during a day-long debate in the Security Council today on that topic, as many speakers stressed that civilians will continue to suffer if existing laws are not enforced.
The security and humanitarian situations in Syria remain precarious, top UN officials told the Security Council today, urging an end to sectarian violence —particularly involving Alawite and Druze communities — and warning of a deepening economic crisis and financing shortfall that is preventing vital humanitarian aid from reaching those in need.
The head of the United Nations told the Security Council today that the “basic condition” for preserving maritime security is that all States respect international law, following which speakers in a day-long debate urged cooperation to address common challenges in this domain.
As the Security Council met today to consider the issue of persons reported missing in armed conflict, speakers — including a woman whose father was abducted during the Korean War and a father whose son’s remains have yet to be returned from the one in Gaza — illustrated that the number of such persons has only continued to increase since the adoption of a resolution on this matter almost six years ago.
In a briefing to the Security Council today, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) underscored the Libyan Government’s stated commitment to cooperate with the Court and pursue justice for its people, while urging the handover of a suspect alleged to have committed grave crimes against detainees — including migrants and refugees.
Despite a temporary lull in fighting, UN officials warned the Security Council that Yemen remains gripped by escalating regional tensions, deepening economic collapse and a worsening humanitarian crisis that continues to devastate civilians — particularly women and children — and derail prospects for lasting peace.
